Interactive computer game
First Claim
1. An interactive computer game comprising:
- A. a digital computer having a display and an interactive means for communicating user input to the computer system;
B. means for displaying on the display an array of elements in rows and columns, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game;
C. means for moving on the display at least one of the elements relative to the array in response to user input via the interactive means; and
D. means for adding to one of the rows and columns of the array an element that was moved there from elsewhere on the display and for removing an element from that row or column, whereby the features on the elements in a row or in a column can be changed to create predetermined patterns,wherein the means for adding an element and removing an element from a row or column comprises means for shifting a row or a column by at least one element, such that when an element is added at one end of a row or a column another element is removed from an opposite end of said row or column and becomes movable on the display relative to the array in response to the user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An interactive computer game uses a digital computer system with a display and an interactive means for communicating user input to the computer system. The system displays on the display an array of elements in rows and columns, each of the elements having a feature distinguishable by a player of the game. In addition, at least one element can be moved by the user via the interactive means. This element can be added at one end of a row or a column of the array thereby shifting this row or column by one element and removing another element from an opposite end of the row or column. When a row or a column is formed in which the elements have a predetermined pattern of features, that row or column is erased from the display. If, within a given time interval, a player is unable to build such a row or a column which has a predetermined pattern of features, the system adds a new row or column of elements to the display.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An interactive computer game comprising:
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A. a digital computer having a display and an interactive means for communicating user input to the computer system; B. means for displaying on the display an array of elements in rows and columns, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game; C. means for moving on the display at least one of the elements relative to the array in response to user input via the interactive means; and D. means for adding to one of the rows and columns of the array an element that was moved there from elsewhere on the display and for removing an element from that row or column, whereby the features on the elements in a row or in a column can be changed to create predetermined patterns, wherein the means for adding an element and removing an element from a row or column comprises means for shifting a row or a column by at least one element, such that when an element is added at one end of a row or a column another element is removed from an opposite end of said row or column and becomes movable on the display relative to the array in response to the user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An method of providing a player with an interactive computer game comprising the steps of:
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A. communicating user input to the computer system; B. displaying on a display an array of elements in rows and columns, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game; C. moving on the display at least one of the elements relative to the array in response to user input via interactive means; and D. adding to one of the rows and columns of the array an element that was moved there from elsewhere on the display and for removing an element from that row or column, whereby the features on the elements in a row or in a column can be changed to create predetermined patterns, wherein the step of adding an element and removing an element from a row or column comprises shifting a row or a column by at least one element, such that when an element is added at one end of a row or column another element is removed from an opposite end of said row or column and becomes an active element of the game which is movable on the display by the player. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of providing a player with an interactive computer game comprising the steps of:
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A. initializing a level of difficulty of the game; B. displaying on a display a two-dimensional array of elements in rows and columns and an active element located outside of the array, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game, wherein the dimensions of the array and the number of the features in the set are determined on the basis of the level of difficulty; C. establishing a time interval within which a player has to form a row or a column, whichever is formed first, of matching elements; D. in response to a player'"'"'s input, moving one element around the display and into either a row or a column of the array whereupon said row or column, shifts by one element in the direction of said movement and an element at the opposite end of said row or column is removed from the row or column and becomes an active element movable by the player; and E. erasing a row or a column of matching elements from the display if the row or column, of matching elements is formed within the time interval. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. An interactive computer game comprising:
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A. a digital computer having a display and an interactive means for communicating user input to the computer system; B. means for displaying on the display an array of elements in rows and columns in a rectangular field, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game; C. means for moving on the display at least one of the elements around the periphery of the rectangular field in response to user input via the interactive means; and D. means for adding to one of the rows and columns of the array an element that was moved there from elsewhere on the display and for removing an element from that row or column, whereby the features on the elements in a row or column can be changed to create predetermined patterns, wherein the means for adding an element and removing an element from a row or column comprises means for shifting a row or column by one element, such that an element is added at one end of a row or column and removed from an opposite end of said row or column, wherein the removed element becomes an active element which is movable on the display in response to the user input. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. An method of providing a player with an interactive computer game comprising the steps of:
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A. communicating user input to the computer system; B. displaying on a display an array of elements in rows and columns in a rectangular field, each of the elements having a feature selected from a finite set of features that are distinguishable by a player of the game; C. moving on the display at least one of the elements around the periphery of the rectangular field in response to user input via interactive means; and D. adding to one of the rows and columns of the array an element that was moved there from elsewhere on the display and for removing an element from that row or column, whereby the features on the elements in a row or column can be changed to create predetermined patterns, wherein the step of adding an element and removing an element from a row or column comprises shifting a row or column by one element, such that an element is added at one end of a row or column and removed from an opposite end of said row or column, wherein the removed element becomes movable on the display around the periphery of the field in response to the user input. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification